Please enter your
Fast Fact number below:
-
-
BAE in £2bn MoD ammunition deal... Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac slump... Discount supermarket sales rise... Phone-line breach leads to fine... BAA 'should sell three airports'... Mortgage lending slump continues... Apple admits iPod Nano 'overheat'... Manufacturing prospects 'worsen'... Three-way split again on UK rates... Public finances improve slightly... Russian denies buying world's most expensive house... Bosses attacked for forcing employees to wear high heels... Swell time... End is nigh?... Moving question... Quiet revolution... Hot or cold?... Kicking off... 'Cash to leave' offer from lender... Revenue withdraws house sale data... German law to target non-EU bids... Council strike sparks disruption... African bank set for share issue... McCain and Obama spar over taxes... Olympic thirst boosts China beer... China shares rebound from low... £1.5bn super-port contract signed... Call to tackle UK business waste... Crown buyout 'good for business'... Rail franchise runners announced... India airport strike hits flights... Fans face agony over gig tickets... Supply of rental properties rises... Warning from Alliance & Leicester... FSA warning on new investor scams... Homebuilding in US at 17-year low... US bank 'to fail within months'... Rate setter warns on UK inflation... Oil rises as the dollar weakens... Origin urges rejection of BG bid... Arcelor tightens hold on iron ore... Foreign sales boost HP earnings... Guidelines for financial journalists...
Guide to Essential Money Tools
Expat Money Tools
Online shopping tips
Barclaycard, whose free Barclaycard Secure service protects customers’ cards against unauthorised use when they shop online, polled more than 1800 people across the UK on their online shopping habits. The research found that more than a quarter (27%) were unsure how to check if the website they were using was secure or not. Despite the uncertainty felt by shoppers, one in 10 were not helping themselves by continuing to make basic errors when shopping online.
Mistakes — Common mistakes people are making include:
- writing down passwords or saving them in an unprotected area on a computer.
- not checking that the website they are using has the more secure ‘https’ type of web address.
- using their credit card details on computers which others have access to – such as in internet cafés or libraries.
Nevertheless, consumers remain undeterred from using credit or debit card details on potentially non-secure websites.
Worryingly, as many as 40% of those surveyed said they would continue to make a purchase even if they had concerns about the website they were using.
Martin Warwick, head of card fraud operations at Barclaycard, says, “Shopping online is a safe and convenient way of buying. However, it is concerning that despite all the advice and information available on fraud protection, many consumers are not confident internet shoppers and are making really basic mistakes when it comes to using their credit or debit cards through websites.”
Barclaycard’s 12 tips for shopping safely online:
- Install and update anti-virus, anti-spyware, and personal firewall software on your home computer.
- Use a secure browser and set it to high security.
- Check for a locked padlock or key symbol at the bottom of your browser window.
- Check the website address – a secure site will often have https:// at the beginning instead of http:// (the ‘s’ stands for secure) while you make a purchase.
- Learn and then destroy all passwords and PINs and do not hand these details to anyone.
- Sign up to Verified by VISA (www.visaeurope.com/verified) or MasterCard SecureCode (www.mastercard.com/securecd).
- If you’re not familiar with an online store, get some company background, including their phone number and postal address before you buy, or look for the TrustUK logo.
- Be wary using computers others could have access to, such as those in internet cafés, and do not use any computer that you suspect may be insecure.
- Save all records of your online transactions and note down the website address, just in case.
- Check the items on your monthly statement as soon as you receive it against your saved receipts. If there are items relating to payments that you don't recognise, contact your card issuer immediately.
- Remember, the use of online or third party payment methods such as Paypal or Mypay systems may affect your legal rights to claim for non receipt of goods, faulty goods or missing refunds as Paypal or similar companies are not the supplier of the goods.
- Visit your bank’s website for more information and keep updated with the best ways of shopping online and what to be aware of at: http://www.getsafeonline.org/ and http://www.banksafeonline.org.uk/